Steering-gear for automobiles.



No. saw/1a. I` PATETED DGTi .16, 1906. M. HARVEY.

STEERING GEAR POR ATMLS APPILIUATION FILED .um 190m oJr 0 'PATENTED 00116, 1906.

M. HARVEY. STEERING' GEAR POR. AUTOMOBILES.

f 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

/f' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1906.

`in traveling at high speed on curves or when y oll same on line 3,3 ol'Fig. l.

- the steering-shalt, and Fig. (i is a perspective To all whom t Tf1/wy concern:

UNITED `srArEs i PATENT oEEIoE.

STEERlNG-'GEAR lFCPI AUTOMBlLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Appunti@ filed January 3. 1906. Serial No. 294.455.

Be it known that I, MiNon HARVEY, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Steering-Gear for Automobiles, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention has reference to steering-gear for automobiles; and it consists of certain 1m rovements, which are fully set forth in the fol owing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. f

The object of -my invention is to provide a construction of steering orfi controlling gear suitable for automobiles and other appliances which shall be positive in action, durable in use, and eliminate objectionable lost motion and backlash.

In automobiles the steeringgear is required to withstand great strains, especially the steering-wheels strike obstructions in the roadway. To guard against damages due to torsional strains shifting the steering-wheel and its shaft on the gearing under these conditions of great duty is one of the objects of my invention. To guard against lost motion or backlashon the gearing and consequent unsteady steering-is another ol' the specific objects of my invention.

My invention consists ol' certain improve.- lnents in the bearings ol` the gearing and the connection of thefworm-giair with the steering-shaft, as are more l'ully set l'orth in the specification hereinafter.

My invention further consists el. many le-- tails oly construction, which, together withthe features lirst mentioned, will be bet-ter understood by reference' to the drawings, in whieh- Figure 1 is a side elevation with part in section oll a steeringgear embodving my invention. Fig. .2 is a l`ront elevation ol' the sante. Fig. 3 is a cross-section ol' a portion Fig. l is a perspective view ol' one oll the lieys l'or locking the shaft to the worm. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the ramneetion ol' the worm with view of the upper-end ol. the worm-lieariug.

A is the main boxlor ease and has a detaeltable lower portion A, which when bolted in position as shown l'ormsa bearing A2 l'or the l vtransverse shaft B, to which the worm-wheel C is secured. Adjustable stops c c in the case limit the possible oscillationof the wormwheel C. The worin i D, meshes with the Worm-wheel C and has a lower journal or neck D jonrnaled in the bearing E in the lower part of the case. It further has a shoulder D5 to take up end thrust and may rest against an annular Washer d to receive the wear and protect the bearing E. W'hen excessive wear takes place, the washer may be renewed by a thicker washer. n The upper end of the worm D is provided with a journal D2 and a collar D, working in connection with an adjustable bearing F. This bearing F screws into the open end of the case A, as shown, and is locked in adjusted position by a pawl F on the case engaging one of the notches fin the flanged rim of the bearing F. The pawl may be clamped in position by a bolt F, so that it cannot be jarred out of locking engagement. 'l`he Iflanges or shoulders D" and l.)5 prevent any end motionto the worm l).

The upper end of the bearing lr* is made tubular and slotted in one or more plaees.as at D. (liest shown in Fig. Fitted down into the tubular eud ol' the bearing l)`5 oll the worm is the steering-wheel shalt having the steering-wheel ll. lieys l, having rectangular heads l, lit, into holes in the shaft (l, and the heads ll lit into the slots 1)" in the bearings D ol' the worm. ln this manner the shalt G and the worm l) are positively keyed together, so that they must turn together. Surrounding the tubular extension of thc bearing D ofthe worm and also that portion ol the shalt (i immediately above it is a sleeve J, which is split and provided with llanges .l 4l. Bolts li extend through the llanges oll the sleeve and lightly clamp the shalt to the part D" ol` the worin. This sleeve also clamps the llexible 'ends oll the slotted part DE tightly? upon the lower end ol' the sha-lt and also may clamp the heads l. ol' the lreys. By this means the joint between the parts (i and .l)`f is very strong and all liability ofbreaking or ol' the shalt slipping iii the worm is avoided.

l, is a` plug which may be rinnoved to introduce oil into the ease A l'or oiling the gears.

'l`he gears are ol' the type in which the worm lOO 1o said head.- The connection of the arm M and the rod N may be made in any othei` suitable manner, or the erm M may be ein;

ploved to o erate any other device.

-Vihile I ave deseribedrny invention as adapted to steering-gear for automobiles,n it

may be employed as controlling-'gear for any other purpose for .which it may be found ada ted. ile I have described what IA believe to zo he the best Inode of Carrying my invention into commercial use, I do not confine' myself to the details, as they may he modified Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a steering or oontlollin ease, and a Worm-Wheel journa ed in said ease and having an actuating mrt, combined with a Worm meshing with t e Worm-Wheel and iournaled at one end in the ease and having an upWardlv-extending tubular extension, an adjusta )le hearinv'at the other end screwed into the oase ani surrounding the npWardly-exteinling tubular` extension of the Worm, an operating-shaft jitting into the tubular extension of the worm, and lockingkeys extending through the shaft and extension oi." the worm tor securing them together. 2. Ina steering?T or cont-rollin@` device, a ease, and a worm-wheel journaried in said case and having an actuating part, combined with a Worin meshing with the worm-wheel and journaled at one end in the case and having an upwardly-extonding tubular-extension, an adjustablehearing at the other and screwed into the ease and surroundingl the upwardly-extending tubular extension oi" the tubular extension of the worin, locking-keys extending through the shaft and extension of the worm for securing them together, and a sleeve fitting over the tubular extension of the Worin and lower endof the operatingshait.

3. In a steering or control]ingilevimg. a case, and a Worm-wheel ionrnnloil in said oase and having an actuating pari, uom-hini-d With a worm meshing with theI worin-wheel and journaleil at one end in the caso andv having an upwardly-exten(ling tubular extension, an adlustahle bearing attho other end screwed into the ease and surrounding the device, a

Worm, an operating-shaft fitting into the- Worm, an operating-shaft. fitting into the tubular extension of the wenn, loeleing-lfzeys extending through the shaft and extension of the Werm for s enrinf; them together, a `split sleeve iitt'in over the tubular extension ofthe Worin an d lower end of the operatingshaft, 4and means to clamp the split sleeve tightly upon its inelosed parte.

4. In a steering or controllin device,` a ease, and a Worm-wheel journa ed in said case end having an actuating art, combined with a Worin meshing with t e worm-wheel and jonrnaled in the ease and provided-with an upwardly-extendin slotted tubular extension, an operating-s aft fitting Within the slottedtuhular extension, locking-keys arranged in the slots of the tubular extension 1 and having parts projecting into the operating-shaft, and :i sleeve surrounding the tubular extension and looking-keys.

5. In a steering 'or eontloilin device, a ease, and a worm-wheel jonrnaed in said oase and having an actuating nrt', combined with a Worm meshing Awith t 1e worm-wheel and journaled in the ease end provided with an upwardiy-extendine slotted tubular extension, an o ereting-eheft fit-ting Within the slotted tuhu ar extension, looking-keys a1'- ranged in the slots of the tubular' extension and having parts projecting yinto the operating-shaft, and a sleeve surrounding the tuhular extension and locking-keys and extending up around the lower end of the operatingshaft. i

6. In a steering or oontrolline device, a case, and e. worm-Wheel journeed in said nase and having an actuating 1oart, combined. with a worm meshing with tne worm-wired and ioernaleii in trie case and provided wi an upwardijf-extending slotted tubular extensim'i, an operating-shaft .fitting within the slotted tnhuhu extension, ioihing-lieys ranged in he slots oi the tubular extension and having.; parte projecting into thev operating-shaft, e. sleeve surrounding the tubular.A extension and looking-keys and extending up around the lower end of the operating-shaft, and means for clamping the sleeve in posi tion.

7. ln n x-itfering or controllingdevice, a caso, :i worm-wlieel nivo-teil therein, adjustable stops: to limit the ostfiilatione of the worinvrheei in each (lileetinn, n rn'i meshing with the worm-wheel and having a tnbnlm'vhearinelr jonrnnletl in thel ense, and a detachable operating-shait secured to the tuhuhu heervin;r of the worin. ln a steering or controlling devint, gear having' a tubular end, an operatingshnlt fittingY into the ytubular end, lockingket's extending through hoth the tubular end and shaft and a sleeve clamped over the tubular ond and shaft.

a wu

n. in :t steering or controlling device',` a y upwar(ily-extending tubular extension of the ,geur having a slotted tubular end., an operatslots of the tubular end= of the Worm ad t e laterally-extending portions engagi o eratin -shaft and e sleeve clampe t e tubu ar emi Ovel.'

and shaft and inclosing thev In testimony of which ieion I hereunto set my hand.

, MINOR HARVEY-f- Witnes's'es I J. HowmnlMexvlxLl HmrFmomlnpt. 

